This IP Camera offers crisp video and local storage options all in an attractive package. The HD camera records 720p HD video at 30 frames per second thus allows the camera to produce high quality security footage.

SwannCloud uses infrared LEDs to record activity up to 16 feet away. All the videos can be recorded by inserting a MicroSD card into the internet camera’s memory Slot. The camera also keeps video on a cloud server and you can obtain the video footage if you log in using your SwannCloud account.

Starting from the first practical photographic breakthrough by Louis Daguerre, way back in 1837, cameras have undergone magnificent changes over the two centuries. Let’s fast forward to today, wireless IP cameras are digital cameras often used for surveillance and are capable of sending and receiving data through the internet or computer network.

The beauty with these digital cameras is the wireless aspect of it, this means that when you hook your camera to a power source, there are no more worries of finding a cable that will essentially reach into your computer.

So how do you determine which wireless IP camera suits your needs?

Firstly, establish what you need. Many buyers often don’t really know which type of wireless IP camera suites and would satisfy their needs. As a result, they get sucked into buying wireless IP cameras that are beyond what they need.

Before clicking or picking on that item to buy, always ask yourself: what conditions will the camera be located in? (Hallway, outdoor, low light or bright); what precision of data do you want to capture? (HD images with or without audio) and most importantly, what is your budget?

Secondly, another essential feature to consider before getting yourself a wireless IP camera is the pan and tilt range. Of course, this feature will depend on the environment where you intend to use the camera. A wide pan and tilt range is never a bad thing.

Thirdly, zooming capability of the wireless IP camera is also vital. Ensure that you check the type of zooming capability, whether its optical or digital. Most of the IP cameras in the market are digital, but you’ll never fail to find one with optical zoom.

This feature becomes crucial depending on the environment you want the camera to focus on. If the distance between the camera’s location and environment is far apart, you better opt for one with optical zoom capability.

Fourth, test the equipment before purchase. This is vital, especially when you are buying from your local electronic store. Always request for a test setup as this will enable you to determine the picture quality of the camera. In addition, it will give you an opportunity to learn how to set up the equipment in a proper manner to ensure that you get the best image and audio quality.

Top 5 wifi IP cameras for 2016

TRENDnet Wireless Surveillance Camera

Are you looking for a lovely home security camera in 2016 that will capture the data you need with precision? Well, TRENDnet has you sorted with TRENDnet TV-IP672WI.

Foscam FI9821W

This is one of Foscam’s top-end model packed with superior night vision and HD video though it’s slightly smaller at 1280 x 700 resolution.

This model is easily accessible on iPhone, Android and even Blackberry Apps.

A downside to this model is the zooming capability, which is a bit difficult to use. Unfortunately, there is no control over how much you can zoom.

DropCam HD

This gadget features HD video quality, 2 way audio, motion detection and alerts. A major advantage with DropCam HD is the setup process which has been made very simple. It’s such a breeze compared to other competitive brands.

The only downside is that it will consume a large amount of data capacity can reach up to 60GB per month.

If you opt for DropCam HD you have to consider whether you are capable to have that much data consumed each month.

TENVIS JPT3815W

If you are in need of a neat surveillance camera and you are on a tight budget, then TENVIS JPT3815W might be the answer.

It has good night vision in a dark room. However, the power cord that comes with the camera is only 3-4 feet long, and unless you have already installed a custom electric outlet near the place you intend to mount the camera you might have a bit of a problem.

Cubot have released more than a few new smartphones over the last 6 months. I’ll keep updating this page with the ‘Best Cubot phones that you can buy’. All the phones included in the newest update to this guide are either available now or in early 2016. If you’re looking to grab yourself a Chinese Smartphone import bargain and want the best mobile technology with jaw-dropping price tags, then you’ve come to the right place.

Cubot is a relatively unknown brand here in the UK, so in this quick guide, you’ll find out which of their smartphone range is the best value for money, best for photography, best for battery life and the best all-rounder from Cubot.

I often hear people asking “are Cubot phones reliable?” and “are Cubot phones as good as well-known branded smartphones in the UK?“. Well, the simple answer is yes, Cubot have been working hard over the last 12 months to improve their smartphone range and include Full HD screens with 4G support on most of their new phones. You’d be hard pressed to find more features packed into such budget friendly phones.

With their popularity increasing it’s now even easier to find a UK supplier of Cubot phones. What this means you, is that you can buy with confidence knowing that you won’t have to ship your new phone half way around the world should you need to return it plus you’ll have your UK 1 years manufacturers warranty included. Cubot phones are well-built, and mine have survived more than a few drops where more expensive phones haven’t fared so well.

So let’s get to it, here’s the breakdown of the top 5 Cubot phones. I’ve split the guide into categories highlighting the key features. If you scroll down to the bottom you can see a side-by-side comparison of all the Cubot phones mentioned throughout this article.

Cubot’s Next Flagship – Cubot S9

Recently announced by Cubot, the Cubot S9 is a big jump up in terms of hardware from the X17. The S9 will move away from MediaTek for its CPU and go with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 823, which is a top-end CPU, the likes of which you’ll see in the Samsung Galaxy phones.

This is a welcome but surprising move from Cubot as they have traditionally marketed towards the budget end of the smartphone market. Will they outprice their loyal fans though?

The S9 is also set to include 6GB of RAM & a 128GBs of storage. If Cubot can pull the S9 off successfully they’ll be propelled into the mainstream mobile marketplace.

More information, price & availability on the Cubot S9 coming soon.

Best all-rounder – Cubot X17

The award for best all-rounder goes to the Cubot X17. Recently released after the X15 the Cubot X17 is their latest flagship phone featuring 3GB of RAM coupled with a 64bit Quad-core CPU from MediaTek. The body is crafted from a titanium alloy frame, is only 6.1mm thick and weighs only 145 grams giving the X17 a very premium feel in your hand.

Like the X15 that came before, Cubot have also used a Full-HD vibrant screen with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. This all adds up to a whopping 441PPI which produces a very crisp image.

If you’re looking for a good all-rounder with plenty of power and a crystal clear Full-HD display, then the Cubot X17 won’t disappoint. It may not be as stylish as some of Cubot’s earlier phones but it’s definitely the best all-round Cubot phone you can get your hands on.

Best Waterproof Cubot Phone for Photography – Cubot X11

The winner is Cubot X11 with its fantastic Sony IMX214 Exmor RS sensor. You can find this sensor in lots of top end phones and although it’s not Sony’s newest sensor it still takes great shots with good low light performance. We can see the same sensor used in the Nexus 6, OnePlus and the Elephone P7000. Another benefit is the Sony lens also features a dual LED flash which helps gives to give skin tones a more natural feel.

Having a true resolution of 13MP and an aperture of f/2.0 coupled with a wide-angle you’ll be able to get some great shots with the X11. Add to this that Cubot X11 is manufactured to an IP65 waterproof rating and you’ll be able to get some really creative pictures.

Best Value Cubot Phone – Cubot Note S 5.5″

One of Cubot’s latest phone releases the 5.5″ Note S gets our ‘Best Value Cubot Phone’ award with its beautiful & vibrant 720×1280 pixel HD screen. It’s not often you’ll find a phone featuring 2GB of RAM, a quad-core CPU & great battery life all for a little over £50.

It doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles of more expensive smartphones with the most obvious con’s being the cheap camera and lack of 4G support. Bearing in mind that Cubot had to cut back somewhere to keep the price so low, the camera performance trade-off for the vivid and responsive 5.5″ screen seems well worth it.

Best battery life – Cubot H2

The Cubot H2, the successor to the popular H1, holds one of the largest batteries I’ve ever seen on a phone measuring only 9.2mm in thickness. The battery used inside the H2 is a polymer lithium-ion with 5000mAh of power which will keep even heaviest of users charged for days.

To top this off, the H2 also comes with an impressive 720×1280 IPS OGS display as well as an improved processor and extra 1GB or RAM compared to the H1.

With all that battery power, quick-charge is a must and Cubot doesn’t disappoint with their 5v/2A quick charging charger included. The H2 also comes with the ability to charge your other gadgets should you need to.

Carrying all this extra battery power does come at the cost of extra weight, but putting that aside the H2 is a great budget all-rounder that will last for days.

Most Stylish Cubot Phone – Cubot X9

This award easily goes to the Cubot X9. It’s apple-esque shape, slim design and soft curves make this an amazing phone to look at and hold. The X9 has a vibrant 720×1280 screen which feels similar to the slightly over-saturated look of Samsung phones. The body is crafted from a titanium alloy and the whole phone only weighs 124g giving it a premium feel in your hand. You might even get a few people mistaking this phone for a well-known fruit phone, but that’s a good thing in my opinion.

If you’re looking for a stylish phone that will easily fit into your hand and not weigh you down then the X9 is for you.

Best Cubot smartphone side-by-side comparison

You can see below a side-by-side comparison of the current top 5 Cubot phones available to buy. Some of the phones mentioned aren’t the latest releases from Cubot but still in their own right have a great combination of style and features that make them worth considering. Also with the X9 and X11, the price has dropped considerably since launch making them a very inviting option.

I first reviewed Republic Wireless two years ago when my parents were looking for a new carrier. I then wrote about the service again after they updated the firmware and released 2 new phones. To recap:

Republic Wireless is an innovative company that I first found while doing research on high quality, low cost cell phone providers. The founders had a vision to utilize high speed internet to lower the usage of cellular data, and therefore lower the cost to end users. It worked well, and Republic has grown very quickly.

They took the Android operating system and developed a custom firmware that integrates WiFi high speed internet and cellular coverage. When you are in range of a Wifi broadband internet connection, Republic Wireless phones automatically make calls and send messages through the internet, which is very cheap to do. Once you are beyond Wifi range, the phone will automatically switch and use cellular towers just like a traditional cell phone.

With new firmware configured, they launched a beta, then they brought the service to the masses. This new service was configured for only one phone – the Motorola Defy XT (now extinct), and it had a few bugs that slowed growth. The transition from WiFi to cellular towers was buggy and sometimes resulted in dropped calls. MMS (multimedia messaging) also had problems and required an Android app to work in full capacity.

Beta Updates

To fix the initial problems observed in the beta release, Republic Wireless tweaked their service and vastly improved their network transition. They fixed the problem with dropped calls and fixed the messaging problems. The service began working seamlessly, and has continued to improve with each new update.

They also announced an all new lineup of plans and phones. They began offering the Moto X and Moto G. A few months after the Moto G was released, Republic rolled out two more phones, the Moto E and the 2nd generation Moto X. These phones will continue to be supported by Republic, but will not be available for purchase by new customers.

Big Changes in 2016

On July 28th, 2016, Republic once again raised the bar. They announced several major changes that are effective immediately:

All new Republic Wireless users will utilize the T-Mobile network (Existing plans will remain on the Sprint network for now).

You can now bring your own phone (must be on the list below and T-Mobile compatible) to Republic. All that is required is a Republic SIM card (available starting August 11th).

Or, you can buy a new phone directly from Republic. All new phones sold by Republic are unlocked.

You can purchase one of these unlocked phones directly from Republic, or you can buy elsewhere and obtain a SIM card from Republic (available starting August 11th).

These phones require no contracts whatsoever. If you decide to leave Republic, you can take the phone and use it on another carrier.

How do the Republic Wireless phones compare?

All of the new phones being offered are solid Android smartphones. You really can’t go wrong here, but I’ll share a few of my thoughts on selecting a phone.

Best Budget Phone – Moto G4 ($199)

The new Moto G4 is a great value. It has all the modern features that users love:

5.5″ 1080p High Definition (HD) screen

13 megapixel camera

Great battery life

Fast processors

For the average smartphone user, the G4 is more than capable.

Best Overall Phone – Nexus 6P ($499)

The Nexus 6p is a fantastic high-end Android phone. It has received praise for the following features:

Beautiful 5.7″ Quad HD AMOLED screen

Snapdragon 810 8-core processors

3GB RAM

Dual Focus HD rear camera

Fast charging 3,450 mAh battery

It is an outstanding unlocked phone for power users.

Other Choices

My next pick would have to be the Moto X Pure Edition for $349. This is an excellent phone, and a great alternative to the Nexus 6P mentioned above.

The Samsung S6 and S7 are also excellent flagship phones, with excellent user reviews. If you are a Samsung fan, you can’t go wrong with either. The only concern for some is the steep price tag.

The only phone I would avoid is the Samsung Galaxy J3. It’s nearly the same price as the Moto G4, but has far fewer features.

Republic Wireless Plans and Coverage

Republic also completely overhauled their network and plans. The older Republic phones ran on the Sprint network, and had to be purchased directly from Republic. All of the new phones are unlocked, and run on the T-Mobile network. In many areas in the country, T-Mobile has better coverage than Sprint, resulting in fewer headaches and dropped calls.

As of right now, customers can select from the following plans:

$15/month – Unlimited talk and text on T-Mobile and WiFi. Data on WiFi only

The $15/month plan is the base plan, only offering talk and text (no cellular data).

The $20/month plan is probably the best value for most users. $5 additional cost for 1GB high speed data is a very good deal. When Republic tested these plans with a large sample of customers, they found that the average user needs about 0.5GB of cellular data each month (because WiFi is so widely available to use for free).

Republic will allow you to upgrade your plan (add additional data) at any time during the month.

Our Experience on Republic Wireless

Three different members of our family are long-time Republic Wireless users. Each has a different phone and different plan. Overall, the experience has been very good. Our family has rarely witnessed a dropped call when moving from WiFi to the cellular network.

I also have past experience with the Moto X and the Moto E. I have been really impressed by the quality of the phones and service. The quality of calls over WiFi has been very good, with no noticeable decline in call quality when compared to cellular calls. I haven’t noticed many bugs or glitches in the latest firmware either.

All things considered, it’s a good experience. Other cellular companies are still trying to charge 2-3x the price of Republic’s unlimited talk and text plan, so we’ll have to overlook the minor flaws and appreciate the improvements that Republic continues to make.

Republic Wireless Review Summary

There are very few carriers that can compete with Republic Wireless on a price basis right now. The new phones and plans are huge step forward, improving upon an already top-notch service.

I think Republic is disrupting the landscape of cellular providers and doing consumers a huge favor in providing this service. With the recent firmware improvements and new phone offerings, they offer an outstanding service.

You can check the plans and details out further at the Republic Site. Thanks for reading my Republic Wireless review!